A surgical sealant film is an implantable
medical device used during surgery. It is a preformed flexible patch that is applied to supplement
sutures and
surgical staples to seal tissues and prevent leaks of fluid (including blood and
cerebrospinal fluid) and air.
The sealant film is synthetic and incorporates absorbable polymers, including
poly(lactide-co-glycolide). The polymeric components impart structural and adhesive properties with the sealing effect achieved by incorporation of a
bioadhesive polymer. This forms a
covalent bond
A covalent bond is a chemical bond that involves the sharing of electrons to form electron pairs between atoms. These electron pairs are known as shared pairs or bonding pairs. The stable balance of attractive and repulsive forces between atoms ...
to primary amines present on the tissue surfaces. In turn this results in the film rapidly becoming effective in providing a form of secondary wound closure.
The film can be used for sealing the
dura mater,
preventing blood loss in general surgery and eliminating air leaks following lung
resection.
References
{{Reflist
Implants (medicine)